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Overview

Lighthouses: Watchers at Sea by Brenda Z. Guiberson

"Guiberson gives the exciting facts about lighthousestheir history, engineering, and human drama.... This is a story of setting and weather, the wild, dangerous places on the edge of the sea." Booklist

Editorial Reviews

"Guiberson gives the exciting facts about lighthousestheir history, engineering, and human drama.... This is a story of setting and weather, the wild, dangerous places on the edge of the sea." Booklist

From the Publisher

Gr 3-6-The history of lighthouses, from the Egyptian Pharos built in 280 B.C. to present-day structures, is recounted in a fascinating and readable narrative. Early difficulties in constructing lighthouses that would withstand heavy storms at sea; the often-tedious life of their keepers; and stories of famous shipwrecks, moon cussers, and pirates are told in a lively style. Black-and-white photographs and many detailed sketches help to clarify the information and enhance the book's appeal.-Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

This is science storytelling for "a dark and stormy night." Without sensationalism, Guiberson gives the exciting facts about lighthouses--their history, engineering, and human drama. The writing style is quiet and direct, and the small, handsome volume is illustrated with Guiberson's detailed technical drawings as well as photos from a number of sources. The technology is fascinating: how the lights burned bright through history; how the tall towers were built and broken and rebuilt to stand strong; how modern automated signals have largely replaced human watchers. Just as compelling are the accounts of shipwrecks and daring rescues, of solitary workers who had to "keep a light burning all night long and through every storm." Most of all, this is a story of setting and weather, the wild, dangerous places on the edge of the sea.